Milton district admits mistake in hazing case

Milton High Principal Anne Blake, left, sits with her defense lawyer John Pacht, right, during the public forum on hazing. William Harris, a motivational presenter hired to work with Milton students, is in the foreground.
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MILTON – The Milton School District failed to notify all parents of alleged hazing victims when the students were questioned by school administrators, Superintendent John Barone said Thursday night.

"It's an inconsistency," Barone told about 250 community members attending a public forum about hazing within the high school football program.

"Procedurally we made a mistake," said Barone reflecting back on how the district mishandled the hazing case. He said the district is moving forward.

The disclosure and additional comments about inaction caused the ire of several residents who said it would be easier for parents to help their children with the mistreatment. They also said the hazing might have been detected earlier if school officials had been more forthcoming.

Among those speaking were family members of Jordan Preavy, a 17-year-old former Milton football player, who committed suicide on Aug. 28, 2012. The death came within a year after he was sexually abused during a hazing ritual by football players, court records show.

His father, Sean Preavy, said schools should be a safe place that families can send children, but that is not what happened in Milton. Preavy, surrounded at the podium by family members, said said there was a "letdown by the entire school system."

He said for two years the family has asked countless questions. "Why and how does this happen?"

Preavy said "A code of silence needs to be broken."

Milton High School Principal Anne Blake, who is on a paid medical leave for one year, defended her record of protecting children. She also disputed that she had intimidated any student.

"I never thought they were being abused," Blake said.

Court records show one student said he did not tell the truth because Blake had said she would cancel the football season if there had been hazing. The student said he did not wanted to be hated by fellow students.

Blake, who has not been charged in the case, attended the 90-minute session with her criminal defense lawyer John Pacht.

Pacht's representation of Blake became public last month following a public records request by the Burlington Free Press that revealed the School District spent $1,155 in taxpayer money to reimburse Blake for her legal bills.

Five former Milton football players are charged in the hazing case with simple assault, a crime that carries a possible one-year jail sentence.

Chittenden County State's Attorney T. J. Donovan was grilled by some in the audience for not filing more serious charges.

Donovan said the charges are based on what he thinks he can prove to a jury. He said to a sexual assault charge — a 20-year felony — would require him to show the attacking players had some sexual gratification. He questioned whether that could be shown based on the evidence.

When asked why the players were not charged with holding the victims against their will — a form of kidnapping — Donovan said it was a judgment call by him.

Donovan was asked twice if the people held down were girls or cheerleaders would he have filed more serious charges. Donovan refused to speculate.

"Those were not the facts."

He said he thinks it is going to be difficult to get the victims to come into a public courtroom and tell their story. He said he wants to try to make sure he does not lose at trial and the victims walk away with no satisfaction.

Donovan, who earlier called on changes in the mandatory reporting law for child abuse, repeated the message Thursday night. He said "reasonable cause" needs to be better defined.

Donovan said some members of the football team lied during the investigation, while others claimed they did not remember holding victims down.

Also at the hearing were Donovan's chief deputy for major crimes, Mary Morrissey, who is prosecuting the case, and Burlington Sgt. Mike Warren, head of the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations. Neither offered any comments.